Top 10 Christmas-Themed Video Games

10. The Grinch: Christmas Adventures

Based on the classic Dr. Seuss book, this modern platformer lets you play as the Grinch himself. Your mission is to sneak through Whoville, using your cunning and gadgets to steal presents and ruin the holiday. The game is a simple, side-scrolling adventure that fully immerses players in the iconic story, complete with narration from the book. It’s a faithful and festive experience perfect for younger gamers or anyone looking to embrace their inner Grinch.

9. Special Delivery: Santa’s Christmas Chaos

A true retro deep cut from the Commodore 64 era, this game puts you in the boots of Santa Claus on the most important night of the year. The gameplay is split into three parts: flying your sleigh to collect presents dropped by angels (while avoiding demonic ones), landing on rooftops, and carefully sneaking into houses to place gifts under the tree without waking anyone. It’s a charmingly ambitious and surprisingly tense arcade-style game that captures the pressure of Santa’s big job.

8. Elf Bowling

A late-90s PC phenomenon, Elf Bowling became infamous after being mistaken for a computer virus in a viral email chain. In reality, it was a simple and hilariously irreverent bowling game. You play as Santa, using his disgruntled elves as bowling pins. The game is filled with cheeky humor, as elves mock you and other strange events occur on the lane. Its simplicity and mischievous tone made it an unexpected holiday classic that millions of people played.

7. Daze Before Christmas

Released for the SNES and Sega Mega Drive, this platformer casts you as Santa on a mission to save Christmas. An evil snowman has captured your reindeer and elves, and you must use your magic to turn enemies into presents and save the day. The game’s most unique feature is the “Anti-Claus” power-up. By drinking a cup of coffee, Santa transforms into a demonic, invincible version of himself to dish out some holiday punishment. It’s a quirky and colorful adventure from start to finish.

6. Viscera Cleanup Detail: Santa’s Rampage

What happens after the Christmas chaos? You have to clean it up. In this darkly humorous simulation game, Santa has finally snapped and gone on a rampage across the North Pole. Your job is not to save the day, but to arrive afterward with a mop and bucket to clean up the gruesome aftermath. You’ll be scrubbing elf blood off the walls and disposing of toy parts in this bizarre and surprisingly satisfying holiday-themed janitorial simulator.

5. James Pond II: Codename RoboCod

This classic platformer for the SNES and Sega Genesis is a full-blown Christmas adventure. James Pond’s nemesis, Dr. Maybe, has taken over Santa’s workshop at the North Pole, imprisoning the elves and turning the toys evil. As the super-spy James Pond, you don a robotic suit that allows you to stretch your body to navigate 50 festive levels. It’s a vibrant and imaginative game that fully commits to its Christmas-rescue theme.

4. Home Alone (Sega Genesis)

While there are many games based on the classic movie, the Sega Genesis version stands out. The game expands on the film’s premise, tasking Kevin McCallister with protecting not just his own house but the entire neighborhood from the Wet Bandits. For a set amount of time, you must race around on your sled, set up traps, and use a variety of “weapons”—from a BB gun to an RPG—to fill the bandits’ pain meter. It’s a fun and frantic race against the clock that captures the film’s chaotic energy.

3. Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams

Originally released as a free, two-level demo for the Sega Saturn, Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams is a beloved holiday treasure. The game is a Christmas-skinned version of the classic NiGHTS into Dreams, where you fly through a festive dream world to recover a stolen star from the town’s Christmas tree. With its gorgeous, snowy landscapes, magical soundtrack, and fluid gameplay, this title is praised for perfectly capturing the wonder and joy of the holiday season.

2. Jazz Jackrabbit: Holiday Hare

In the mid-90s, Epic MegaGames released free, standalone Christmas versions of its popular PC platformer, Jazz Jackrabbit. Titled Holiday Hare, these games were entirely new experiences set in a magical, wintry wonderland. The levels are filled with festive enemies, snowy backdrops, and an incredible Christmas-themed soundtrack featuring everything from a rap version of “Little Drummer Boy” to a haunting take on “Carol of the Bells.” The fast-paced, action-packed gameplay combined with the outstanding holiday atmosphere makes this a retro Christmas masterpiece.

1. Christmas Lemmings

What started as a free demo quickly became a full-fledged commercial release due to its popularity. Christmas Lemmings (or Holiday Lemmings in the U.S.) takes the classic puzzle-platformer and gives it a complete holiday makeover. Your job is to guide hordes of lemmings dressed in adorable Santa suits through 32 snow-filled levels. The puzzles are as challenging as ever, but the gorgeous winter landscapes, charming holiday music, and festive characters make it the quintessential Christmas video game. It’s a perfect blend of brain-teasing gameplay and pure, unfiltered holiday cheer.